24-01-11, 08:32 PM
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Silvio Berlusconi: Catholic Church warns of impending 'anthropological disaster’ in I
Silvio Berlusconi: Catholic Church warns of impending 'anthropological disaster’ in Italy - Telegraph
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The country’s most senior bishop, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, said the prime minister’s conduct was sowing the seeds of an “anthropological disaster”, where young Italians would eschew abiding by the law and working hard in favour of easy money by “selling” themselves.
Cardinal Bagnasco, said the example set by Italy’s leaders suggested that “cunning, social climbing, showing off and selling oneself” was the way to get ahead in life.
Italians were “horrified” by the conduct of politicians, some of whom needed a refresher course in “the ABCs of ethics”, he said.
He was the second high-profile establishment figure to attack Mr Berlusconi in as many days.
On Sunday one of Italy’s best known business leaders said Mr Berlusconi’s actions have made Italy a laughing stock and forced her into charm offensive to rescue country’s reputation.
Emma Marcegaglia, the head of the Confindustria employers’ federation, said she spent a lot of time trying to convince foreigners that not all Italians behave like Mr Berlusconi, who is under investigation for abuse of office and paying for sex with prostitutes during wild parties.
“When I go abroad, I constantly emphasise that there is another Italy — an Italy that goes to bed early and wakes early, that works hard, that is industrious and committed,” she said.
Salacious wire taps from a months-long investigation have painted a rather different image of the country, in which nubile starlets compete with each other to cavort with the 74-year-old billionaire in hot tubs and swimming pools at “bunga bunga” sex parties.
Miss Marcegaglia said the prime minister was so intent on trying to quell the scandals that the country had been plunged into a state of paralysis.
“For six months the government has not been up to the job,” she said.
“In the next few weeks we will see if the government is capable of carrying out certain reforms, otherwise there will be a need to make other choices. We can’t wait any longer,” she said.
Opposition leaders have accused Mr Berlusconi of shaming Italy over allegations that he paid for sex with a “significant” number of women, including an alleged under age prostitute, Karima El Mahroug, a Moroccan-born erotic dancer also known as Ruby the Heart Stealer. He and Miss El Mahroug deny the accusations.
The prime minister has launched a legal counter-attack, with his lawyers submitting a dossier to the prosecutors in Milan who are leading the investigation against him.
The files include interviews with the carousel of models, starlets and reality television contestants who attended his parties and will form the basis for the prime minister’s defence.
Prosecutors are demanding that he face a fast-track trial which could start in the next few months.
A new survey showed that nearly half of Italians — 49 per cent — now want Mr Berlusconi to resign, up eight percentage points from a year ago.
But support for his People of Freedom party is on the increase, according to the poll published in Corriere della Sera newspaper, from 27 per cent to 30 per cent, maintaining it as the country’s most powerful political force.
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